Apparatus for opening compressed packages



March 1952 J. R. NORDSTROM APPARATUS FOR OPENING COMPRESSED PACKAGES Filed Aug. 14, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m w W.

afofm. R. Nerds Zrom March 11, 1952 J. R. NORDSTROM APPARATUS F OR OPENING COMPRESSED PACKAGES Filed Aug. 14, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q1 7 g N l N o v 0\ III W; 00 v m Q 1 n 0 v N m a Q g I 5F INVENTOR. 6 W JofinR.Nord,sirom l s Q N N March 11, 1952 J, qo srng w- 2,588,752

APPARATUS FOR OPENING COMPRESSED PACKAGES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 14, 1947 INVENTOR- JZNO rd; 51 cm U". Q R0 38 Am Jog n Jeff z. mm

Patented Mar. 11 1952 UNITED STATES ATE'NT oFFIcE APPARATUS FOR OPENING COMPRESSED PACKAGES John E. Nordstrom, Portland, Oreg. Application August 14, 1947, Serial No. '7 68,680

11 Claims. 1

It is well known that many products readyfor the retail markets or as the raw materials of products in manufacture which have inherent resiliency are exceedingly bulky for handling, storageor transportation. To eliminate these disadvantages inherent in such products, their normal density and dimensions are sometimes reduced by compression after manufacture and when made ready for warehousing .and shipment, whenever such material ,can be readily re-expanded by the ultimate user. Coil and other types of springs are usually handled and packaged in this manner. It is now the standard practice .to package the springs used in the manufacture of mattresses and bedded furniture, in a highly compressed and, therefore, compact package. While this method of packaging for handling, storing, and transporting is satisfactory .to the fabricator, Shipper, and ultimate user, it does, however, create a serious problem'to the ultimate user occasioned by the necessity of re-expanding these goods to their normal density and dimensions.

In thecase of .coil springs used in manufacturing mattresses and bedded furniture, the problem is extremely serious since a large quantity of coil springs can 'be highly compressed into a relatively small package without fear of damage or loss to their normal resiliency when the compressed package is opened and the springs are allowed to resume their normal state. It is a proven fact that in opening such highly compressed packages, workmen have been injured in spite of caution employed in handling them; and because of this dangerous condition created by the opening of these compressed packages, much time is consumed in opening such packages. My invention eliminates the hazards referred to and saves considerable time in opening compressed packages.

The main object of my invention is to provide apparatus for opening compressed packages expeditiously and safely.

Another object oftheinvention is to provide apparatus for opening compressed packages which is simple in construction and application and which can be moved about with little effort.

Still another object of the invention'is to provide apparatus for opening compressed packages which is safe to handle, easy to assemble, or disassemble and which is readily adaptable to fit various types and sizes of compressedpackages.

The accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, illustrate the structural features of the invention, and in order to describe the invention in detail, reference is made to said drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of apparatus embodying the invention and showing the position of a package when under compression and after the compression has-been removed therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a perspective, side view, of a segment of one of the package supports showing the structural characteristics of the slidable anchor and the slidable pulley embodying features of my invention;

Fig. '3 is a side view, partially in Section, and partially broken away, of the drum and brake structure revealing features of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a perspective segment or one of "the supports showing the method employed in securing-it-to'the end support; 4

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken on line 5-1- 5 of Fig. 1, showing the structural features of one of the restraining bars and the position of the pulley in relation thereto;

Fig. "6 is an end elevational view showing-one of the end pulleys and control arrangement therefor; l

Fig. "7 is a sectional elevation, taken on line -'l-? of Fig. 6, to reveal the structural characteristics of the pulley :controls r Fig. .8 is an end view of one of the pulleys used to change the direction-of travel of the rope and reveals the loose manner in which it is se cured in order to allow sufiioient play when the rope changes its position on the drum; and

Fig. -9 is a birdseye view ofialmodified arrangement for correlating the rotation .or the end pulleys :to provide equal tension on the ropes. The complete apparatus embodying the prinsciples of my invention .a fanciful package I is shown in full in-a compressed state ready "to be expanded hyrthe employment of the apparatus and in dotted line, identified. by numeral .1" in an expanded state .after the pressure in the package has been re;- leased by the apparatus. Package I is positioned upon .a pair of. supports 2 and 3 lin-ithesame plane and spaced in parallel relation to each other. These supports are removably securedzto the end support 4. :Supports2and'3a1te shown as T-shapedalthough they maybe ZL-shaped. send support 5 .may-he made from angle iron :or may be T-shaped or I-shaped, desired. Fig. 4 discloses the method employed rinse-.- curing supports 2 :and 3 toend support 4. accomplished :by welding or securing :by' may standard method :L-shaped'i-brackets 5 Land 6,..to the vertical wall of end supportAso thata space?! is provided between the :top of theibrackets :and the underside of the end support 4 approximately equal to the-thicknessof the top portion =of:th'e supports 2 and '3.

is shown in Fig. "1 wherein.

The brackets- 5 and 26 are also spaced apart to provide a pocket 8 wide enough to receive the leg of each of the supports 2 and 3. Coinciding openings 9 and ID are provided in the supports 2 and 3 and brackets 5 and 6 to receive the standard bolt and nut assembly l as shown in Fig. 7. By this arrangement, the supports 2 and 3 are fixedly and rigidly secured to the end support 4 and yet are readily disengageable for shipment or storage. A pair oi casters |2 of standard construction are secured to the ends of supports 2 and 3 in any desirable manner.

Referring again to Fig. l, a drum and brake assembly support |3 is welded or otherwise centrally secured to the wall of end support 4 and extends therefrom in the same plane as the top of the end support. A pair of casters l4 are secured to support |3 in any desirable manner. The casters secured to the supports 21, 3, and [3, give mobility to the apparatus. Pairs of legs l5, and l6, are fixedly secured to support l3 in vertical spaced parallel relationship to each other and provide the basic support for the drum and brake assembly hereafter to be described. Pairs of reenforcing rods l1 and I8, secured at right angles to legs l5 and I6, are positioned in spaced parallel relationship to each other at and near the top of said legs.

A pair of bracket plates l9 and 26 are secured to pairs of legs l5 and H3 respectively adjacent their ends and each plate has coinciding openings therethrough to support bearings 2| and 22. A drum 23, having end walls 24 and 25 and a divider wall 26, has its shaft 21 journaled in bearings 2| and 22 respectively. Appropriate openings, not shown, are provided in the divider wall 26 into which the ends of the ropes 28 and 29 may be anchored in any desired manner. A thrust washer. 36 is provided between the end wall 24 and the wall of thrust bearing 2|.

A cylindrical pressure plate 3| is slidably positionedon shaft, 21 and a floating brake disc 32, made of fibrous material or such other appropriate material as fits the requirements, is positioned between end wall 25 and pressure plate 3| and is held intimately under pressure between them by a plurality of coil springs 33. These springs are compressed between pressure plate 3| and bracket plate 20 and are kept in lateral alignment by a plurality of externally threaded pins 34extending from pressure plate 3| and slidably extending through bracket plate 20 and each of said pins has a lock nut 35 threaded thereon.

A brake release collar 36 fits over and is slidably keyed to the outer surface of bearing 22. One of its faces 31 is angled to coincide with a like face 38 provided on swash plate 39. Swash plate 39 is also positioned over the outer surface of bearing 22 but in rotatable relation thereto. A brake release handle 40 extends from swash plate 39.. A retaining collar 4| is movably secured to the outer surface of bearing 22 and holds faces 31 and 38 in intimate contact at all times. A plurality of brake release fingers 42 have one of their ends positioned ingrooves 43 provided on the periphery of collar 36 adjacent to its vertical face and the other of their ends are provided with an opening 44 which fits over pin 34. Adjusting set screws 45 are threadedly disposed in fingers 42 and engage the outer surface of the bracket plate 20. From the foregoing description, it is apparent that by moving handle 40 about the outer surface of bearing 22, collar 36 is moved toward or away from bracket plate 20 and through the action of fingers 42, tension on springs 33 is increased or. ,decreasedin direct proportion tothe degree of rotation of handle 40. Thus this swash plate movement increases or decreases the braking action between the end wall 25 and pressure plate 3| on the floating brake disc 32. A crank 46 is removably secured to shaft 21 and is employed to wind and unwind the ropes 28 and 29 when necessary.

A pair of restraining bars 41 and 48 are placed on top of the representative package I in spaced relation to each other and to supports 2 and 3, when it is desired to open said package. Each of said bars has the same structural characteristics, therefore, a detailed description of one Will suihce for both. l'testrainins bar 48 is made of two sections 49 and 50 of difierent lengths and which are hinged together, as at 5|, in order to accommodate the restraining bars to the top contours of the package being opened. Both of the sections of restraining bar 48 possess the same structural design shown in Fig. 5, and, as will be seen, is fabricated to the same shape as standard overhead track beams, and provides a pair of slide tracks 52 and 53 within the interior of the restraining bars on which pulley mount 54 is fixedly positioned in the track Iormed in section 49 and has a pulley (not shown) rotatably secured therein, and the pulley mount is removably secured in relation to the restraining bars in any desirable manner as by a nut and bolt arrangement 55. A guide pin 56 extends downwardly from the opposite end of pulley mount 54, and this pin normally contacts the side of the package to be opened. Another pulley 51 is rotatably secured in the usual manner to the opposite end of section 49 ofthe restraining bars. Slidably positioned in relation to section 53 of the restraining bars is another pulley mount 53 having the same features as pulley mount 54 such as a pulley 59 mounted in the usual manner and a pin 60 depending therefrom.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that each of the restraining bars 41 and 48 is divided into two sections, and each have a pair of pulley mounts, one of which is in fixed position to section 49 and the other of which is in slidable relation to section 50.

Ropes 28 and 29 pass over the various pulleys positioned within the restraining bars and have their free ends, only one of which is revealed, as shown at 6|, anchored in any desirable manner, as by a single Blackwall Hitch formed in the pairs of eyes 62 which are provided on the anchor 63, slidably positioned in relation to support 2. A like anchor, not shown, is provided for the other rope 28, and it is positioned in slidable relation to support 3. In addition to the eyes 62, each anchor 63 has a pair of grooves 34 formed in its underside in which the sides 65 and 56 of supports 2 and 3 fit. By this arrangement, the anchor 63 may be adjusted on the supports 2 and 3 to accommodate packages of different widths.

At the junctures of supports 2 and 3 with end support 4, a pair of identical bracket assemblies 61 and 68 extend upwardly from support 4, and each of these bracket assemblies are disclosed in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. Since these assemblies are identical in construction only one will be described in detail. Bracket assembly 68, consists of pairs of legs 69 and pairs of legs 10, all positioned in vertical spaced parallel relation to each other. Pairs of rope friction prevention rollers 1| and I2 are rotatably secured to the legs at and adjacent to the top of pairs of legs 69 and. 16 and, between them, provide a passage for the ropes 28 and 29 which insures swears:

against their damage .from friction and premature wear as they pass therethrough. .Imaddition, the supportsfor. these rollers provide greater rigidity to the pairs of legs.

A pair of bearing supports .13 :are secured to and between said pairs of legs and a shaft 14 is 'journal'ed thereinso that a portion of said shaft extends beyond one of the bearing supports, as shownsin Fig. '1. A pulley 15, having agroove to accommodate the ropes, is -keyed to this shaft between the bearing supports andv another grooved pulley -16 .is secured to the extended portion of shaft 14.

A'Istub shaft support 11, having :stub shaft 18 extending therefrom .ispivotally supported by a bolt and nut combination as 'shownat 18a. Adisc v:1l9,..made .of soft rubber, and the periphery of which is hat and slightly wider than the pe- .riphery of pulley 15, is .rotatably positioned on stub shaft 18. A pin 80 extends-from support 11 and a spring 8| under 'tension isanchored thereto and to one of the pairsof legs .Hlso that the peripheries of the pulley and disc 19 are in intimate contact at all times. Secured to one side of the disc 19 in any standard manner .is a friction plate 82 which is in contact with the wall of support 11 at all times. Coil spring 483,-under compression by butterfly nut 84 is positioned around the-stub shaft 18--and contacts the side of disc :19. It will be seen that by varyingthe itension on coil spring 83, the pressure between the friction plate82 and the wall of support 11 is varied and the relative ease of movementof the pulley 15 is proportionatelycontrolled.

An endless V-be1t85oonnects pulleys 16 and is crossed so that one rotates clockwise while the other rotates counter clockwise. This arrange- =ment permits the ropes to move simultaneously and'under the same degree of tensionor approximately so. A pair of angled brackets 86 are loose'lysecured to endsupport 4 as shown at 81, in Fig. 8 and each of them supports a 'V-shaped pulley 88 under which ropes 28 and 29 pass to change their angle of travel. By securing the brackets 86 loosely the ropes are permitted 'to change their angle, as shown in Fig. '8, in accordance with their positions assumed on the drum 23 when the same is rotated.

InFig. 9, is shown a modified method for providing coordinated rotation between pulleys 15. This is accomplished by substituting beveled gears 89 'forpulleys 16yand substituting shaft 90, having beveled gears 9] at each end thereof in mesh with gears -89, for V-belt '85.

Mode of operation Theforegoing completes the detailed description of the invention and the following outlines the manner of applying the invention for opening compressed packages. Whena compressed pack- .age is to .beopened and its contents re-expanded to its normal density and dimensions'thepackage is placed upon supports 2 and 3 and restraining bars 41*and are then placed on top of the package in direct alignment with supports 2 and 3'respectively with the downwardly extend- :ingguidep'insifi contacting the side of the package. Anchors 63 are then slidably positionedin relation to supports -2 and 3, so that the ropes "28 and 29, which are securedthereto, are approxi- '''-mately at right angle to supports 2 and 3 and in *contact with the other side of the package. -Restraining bars 41 and 48, each being hinged, ac-

zcommodate themselves to the contour of the top of the package and pulley mounts 58, since they are held intimatecontactat all timeslagainst pulley :15, andby providing adjustable. means .for controlling the speed of rotation of saidadiscs, the ropes 28 and 29 are never allowed toumove uncontrolled about the various pulleys over and under which they :pass as :they travel between the respective anchors provided on the drum .723 and by anchors fiii. Asan additional control for these ropes, :and to insure identical 'tautness .as they are simultaneously payed-out, or their slack removed, pulley 16, connected by 'v-b'el'ts8'5 are provided-and move at the samespeed and-control as pulleys 15.

When theslack of the ropes has been removed, the ropes are held on the drum by the'brake mechanism heretofore described in detail, the restraining bands, wire or other means employed to maintain the package in a compressed conditionyare then removed; and-such pressureaas was restrained by these elements, are then assumed by the anchors 63, restraining bars :41 and 48, and ropes Hand 29. The pressure is then slowly released by movingtheswash plate 39 which perbrake release collar 36 toslide on the outer surface of bearing 22 and thereby release the normal-tension on springs 33 which -in turn proportionately releases the compression maintained between wall 25, pressure plate 3! and floating brake disc 32. The drum 23 is, therefore, allowed tc slowly pay-out ropes 2-8 and -29,'and the package is permitted to slowlyexpand under this'restraint un tila'its contents has assumedits normal density and dimensions.

Structural variations embodying the principles of -myinvention as disclosed in the foregoing description maysuggest themselves to those skilled in 'ithear-t; the invention, therefore, is not limited to the structural details herein shown and described as changes may bemade therein without depar'ting'from' the' broad spirit :of the invention.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

'1. Apparatus for controlling the opening of compressed packages, :comprising supports for said packages a pair of ropes, a drum forsaid ropes, a floating brake disc, a pressure plate-positioned in intimate relation to said brake disc, resilient means-associated with said pressure plate to -maintainsaid plate in :contact "with said brake disc; means associatedwiththe resilient-means to vary the pressure of said pressure plate on said brake disc, means slidably positioned-on said suppor tsadapted for-securing the ends of said'ropes, and means associated with said ropes and confined thereon between said slidable means and said drum foraiding'the movement of said ropes, said means associated with the ropes adapted tobe positioned on top ofIsaid packages.

2. Apparatus characterized as in claim '1 wherein-the supports are T-shape in cross-section and the means slidably positioned on the supports consists of a pair of means, one for each support, each means beingchannel shaped and having a pair of grooves for-med in the underside thereof of a depth andw'idth adequate to permit each-ofsaidmeans to -=slidably=engage the sides of said support, and a pair of eyes extending up,- wardly from each of said means. i

3. Apparatus characterized as in claim 1 wherein the means associated with saidropes for aiding their movement consists of a pair of restraining bars each formed of two sections for partially adapting said bars to follow the top contours of a package, fixed means .associated with one section of each of said bars over which said ropes pass, and slidable means associated with each of the other sections of said .bars over which said ropes pass, both of said means being adapted to confine said'package within the close embrace of said ropes.

4. Apparatus V for re-expanding compressed packages, comprising a support for said packages, a pair of hollow restraining bars positionable on top of the packages, a pair of anchors slidably secured to said support, a drum, means for controlling the speed of rotation of said drum, a pair of ropes secured to said drum and to said anchors, said ropes being threaded through said restraining bars, a pair of grooved pulleys secured to said support under which said ropes are positioned, means for controlling the movement of said pulleys, and means associated with said pulleys for uniformly controlling the movement of said ropes.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein the restraining bars consist of two hinged sections adapted to partially follow the contours of the top of the package, and a pair of pulley mounts disposed in each of said restraining bars, one of said pulley mounts in each of said bars being disposed in fixed relation thereto and the other of said pulley mounts in each of said bars being positioned in slidable relation to its respective restraining bar.

6. Apparatus for controlling the opening of compressed packages, comprising supports for said packages, a pair of ropes, a drum for said ropes, rotatable means for simultaneously controlling the movement of said ropes, means associated with said rotatable means for controlling the speed of its rotation; means slidably positioned on said supports adapted for securing the ends of said ropes, means associated with said ropes and confined thereon between said slidable means and said drum for aiding the movement of said ropes, said means associated with the ropes adapted to be positioned on top of said packages, and means associated with said drum for controlling its movement, said means comprising a floating brake disc, a pressure plate positioned in intimate relation to said brake disc, resilient means associated with said pressure plate to maintain said pressure plate in contact with said brake disc, and means associated with said resilient means to vary, the pressure of said pressure plate on said brake disc.

7. Apparatus characterized as in claim 6 and,

aiding their movement consists of a pair of restraining bars, each formed of two sections for partially adapting said bars to follow the top contours of a package, fixed means associated with one section of each of said bars over which said ropes pass, and slidable means associated with each of the other sections of said bars over which said ropes pass, both of said means being adapted to confine said package withi'n the close embrace of said ropes.

9. Apparatus for controlling the opening of compressed packages, comprising supports for said packages, a pair of hollow restraining bars positionable on top of the packages, a pair of anchors slidably secured to said supports, a drum, a pair of ropes secured to said drum and to said anchors, said ropes being threaded through said restraining bars, a pair of grooved pulleys secured to said supports under which said ropes are positioned, means for controlling the movement of said pulleys, means associated with said pulleys for uniformly controlling the movement of said ropes, and means associated with said drum for controlling its movement.

10. Apparatus characterized as in claim 9 wherein the means for controlling the movement of said pulleys consists of a pair of movable brackets, one for each pulley, a stub shaft extending from each of said brackets, a pair of discs, one for each pulley, rotatably positioned on each of said stub shafts, the peripheries of in combination therewith, wherein the means slidably positioned on the supports adapted for securing the ends of said ropes consists of a pair of means, one for each support, each means being channel shaped and having a pair of grooves formed in the underside thereof of a depth and width adequate to permit each of said means to slidably engage the sides of said support, and a pair of eyes extending upwardly from each of said means.

8. Apparatus characterized as in claim 6 and, in combination therewith, wherein the means associated with said ropes and confined thereon between said slidable means and said drum for said discs being in direct alignment with its respective pulley, means for maintaining theperiphery of said discs in intimate contact with the peripheries of said pulleys, and means for adjustably imparting frictional resistance to the rotation of said discs.

11. Apparatus characterized as in claim 9 wherein the means associated with the drum consists of a shaft for said drum, a bearing for said shaft, said bearing having a collar extending therefrom, a pressure plate slidably positioned on said shaft, a floating brake disc positioned about said shaft and between said pressure plate and one end of said drum, means for continuously forcing said pressure plate against said brake disc, a brake release collar positioned on the bearing and not slidable in relation to the collar of said bearing, aswash plate rotatably positioned on said bearing and adapted to force said brake release collar to slide on the bearing, means associated with the brake release collar and the continuously forcing means for increasing or diminishing the compression on the first mentioned means, and means for adjusting the normal compression of said first mentioned means.

JOHN R. NORDSTROM.

REFERENCES GITE1) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 761,401 Reynolds May 31, 1904 1,031,106 Camp July 2, 1912 1,050,425 Cazier Jan. 14, 1913 1,447,025 Levin Feb. 27, 1923 1,461,577 Cook July 10, 1923 1,537,545 Morton May 12, 1925 1,584,819 Smith May 18, 1926 1,887,226 Wunderlich Nov. 8, 1932 2,457,904 Kenck Jan. 4, 1949 

